Freqeuently Asked Questions About Burnlounge
-- -- What is BurnLounge?
BurnLounge is the next wave in the digital music and entertainment industry. In a nutshell, it is a retail website that sells downloadable music similar to iTunes. But the difference is that BurnLounge puts the power of distribution into the hands of the consumer. By licensing the BurnLounge Independent Content Editor (ICE) and business management software, consumers can become independt BurnLounge retailers and create, customize, and promote their very own digital music stores, featuring the music and the artists they like. By becoming a BurnLounge retailer, you can profit by recommending music to your network of friends, family, and associates.
-- -- How much does it cost to download music from a BurnLounge retail site?
BurnLounge is offering music downloads at the very same price point as iTunes, $0.99 per song or $9.99 per album.
-- -- Why should I purchase songs from BurnLounge and not iTunes?
It's all about relationships...If your musician friend Mike told you his music was available on his own Burnlounge website you would be all over it! Gazillionaire Steve Jobs doesn't need your $1. And since Burnlounge is selling tracks for the exact same price point as iTunes, $0.99 per track, why would you buy from Mr. Jobs? He's not going to help your friend.
And if you decide to become a retailer with Burnlounge and have your own store, you can earn the commisions on the sale of music. Burnlounge will pay YOU - iTunes will pay Mr. Jobs. Same product - different compensation structure.
-- -- What format are the files downloaded from BurnLouge?
When you purchase a song from a BurnLounge retailer site, you will download a protected Windows Media Audio (WMA) file. We use Microsoft Windows Media Digital Rights Management software to make sure all the music you have is fast, safe and protected.
-- -- Can I play my BurnLounge music on my MP3 player?
Yes! Most commercially available MP3 players support the WMA file format.
-- -- Can I play songs downloaded from BurnLounge on my iPod?
This is a tricky question. The "official" answer is "No" because Apple has chosen to keep both the iPod and iTunes closed off from every other digital music service by not making their software and hardware compatible with WMA files, which is the format most services ( including BurnLounge) use. They use their own propriatary digital music format called AAC.
Now for the "real" answer.....the real answer is "Yes", but it requires a couple of extra steps. Once you have downloaded your tracks from BurnLounge, use Windows Media Player to open, view, and listen to the files. Windows Media Player should automatically download and acquire the necessary licenses to unlock the protected WMA files. Once you have the files opened in Windows Media Player, create an audio CD by using Windows Media Player to burn your files to a blank CD. During this process, Windows Media Player will convert the WMA files to CDA files which are the same file format store-bought CD's use. Once you have converted your files and burned them to a CD, open iTunes, insert the CD you just created, and import the music into iTunes just like you would for any audio CD using the "import CD" function in iTunes. This process will automatically convert the CDA files on the CD into Apple's proprietary AAC file format that is compatible with iTunes and iPod. (By the way, this process also works for songs downloaded from Napster and other services that utilize the WMA file format).
-- -- What content is available for download from BurnLounge?
BurnLounge is committed to having the largest single library of digital music content in the world. BurnLounge has negotiated licensing agreements with all of the major music lables (Sony/BMG, Universal, EMI, & Warner) as well as hundreds of independent and unsigned artists. So, you're desperately seeking Madonna? You'll find her here! Jonesing for some George Jones? We got him! Have a hankering for some Hank? Well, you get the idea. And if you're a fan of indy music, chances are you'll find what you're looking for on BurnLounge. BurnLounge has been a proponent of the underserved and independent music scene from the beginning, and by allowing the artists and fans themselves to control distribution, they are ensuring that every every genre and niche market is being represented.
-- -- What other products are available for purchse from BurnLounge?
Right now, BurnLounge is only offering digital music for purchase through its retailers' sites. However, in the very near future, BurnLounge plans to broaden its content offering to include other entertainment products such as television, video, and film content. BurnLounge even has plans sell movie tickets through its retail sites!
-- -- How is BurnLounge different from iTunes?
- CONTENT SELECTION: The size and diversity of the catalog of music that will be available, including all of the majors (Sony/BMG, Universal, EMI & Warner), International, under-served, Independents, Island Hop, Reggae, etc... BurnLounge is committed to having the largest single library of digital music content in the world. We, the BurnLounge Retailers, have access to sell this music without having to pay for it or negotiate the license agreements with the artists or record labels. Burnlounge is, and always will be about music and entertainment--NOT selling a device. Think about it--if we provide a platform for ALL artists, signed and independents, to not only sell their own music, but all music, where do you think they will find a home? WEBSITE: BurnLounge Retailers can have a professionally designed site in seconds, which they can personalize with the music they love without having to purchase it first! How many teenagers will think that is cool, and quickly jump ship for Burnlounge? They can own and operate their own music store! They will share playlists with friends, research new music, etc... and create their own communities of music lovers within their circles of friends. MONETARY VALUE: BurnLounge Retailers will get PAID to promote the music we love! Stop the pirating, start the profiting! BurnLounge enables people to monetize their personal referral networks, and profit from the sale of music and other entertainment products through multiple points of distribution. The question remains, how many points of distribution does your team represent? There is no limit to the number of teams or stores you can earn commissions from (more on this elsewhere in the FAQ -- see info on compensation plans). BONFIRE IM: Free to anyone--Incorporates other instant messaging services so you can communicate, develop communities and share the latest, greatest music with others. The teenagers understand this better than we do! Trust me! BURNLOUNGE MAGAZINE: Our publication is professionally produced featuring hit bands, cool new products and the latest information in the music industry. It is a great marketing tool which creates culture to help you get more customers. Think about it--what if you were part of "Rolling Stone" or "Spin" magazine when they started? You can order additional Burnlounge magazine copies in your back office in the resource center. MERCHANDISE: Music is just the beginning. We will offer ring tones, movies, books, posters, logo wear, "BurnLounge Wear", portable music players, video games, concert tickets, etc... to sell from our Burnlounge stores. These items are provided through e-commerce - you will have NO inventory which has to be purchased. So again, the question remains, "How many points of distribution does your team represent?"
-- -- What are the various levels of BurnLounge's Retailer program?
The BurnLounge Next Generation Retailer program offers three basic levels depending on how much time, effort, and money you would like to invest in building your music business. The three levels are Fan, Affiliate, and Music Mogul.
-- -- What is the BurnLounge Fan program?
BurnLounge Fans can open their own online store with BurnLounge's exclusive Independent Content Editing (I.C.E.) software. The ICE software enables Fans to customize their storefront, featuring the albums and songs they want to highlight, while allowing their customers to access the full catalog of BurnLounge music. Fans earn BurnRewards points for each purchase made through their site. BurnRewards points can be redeemed in any BurnLounge store. BurnLounge Fans pay an annual fee of $29.95 to license the ICE software.
-- -- What is the BurnLounge Affiliate program?
Any customer or Fan can become a BurnLounge Affiliate. Affiliates, like Fans, open their own customizable store by licensing the ICE software, and earn BurnRewards Points for each purchase made through their site. But Affiliates have three additional benefits:
1. Affiliates can redeem BurnRewards Points for cash.
2. Affiliates can build a sales team by selling the ICE software to other new retailers. A sales team consists of: 1) the retailers to whom that Affiliate has sold the ICE software directly (called the Direct Team); and 2) the retailers to whom the Direct Team then sales the ICE software, and so on, up to six generations or "rings" away from the Affiliate (this concept is called Concentric Retail).
3. Affiliates have the opportunity to earn BurnRewards Points for the sales of their Direct Team and beyond.
BurnLounge Affiliates pay an annual fee of $29.95 to license the ICE software. They also pay a monthly fee of $6.95 to subscribe to the BurnLounge Business Management Software (BMS) Gold, which tracks and manages the Affilate's team sales.
-- -- What is the BurnLounge Music Mogul program?
Any customer, Fan, or Affiliate can become a Music Mogul. Music Moguls like Affiliates open their own customizable store, earn BurnRewards Points that can be redeemed for cash, and can build a sales team. But Music Moguls have access to educational tools and powerful tracking software that helps them build their team; and can earn substantial bonuses for building a team of other Moguls.
BurnLounge Music Moguls pay an annual fee of $29.95 to license the ICE software, and another annual fee of $100 for the Mogul Toolkit. They also pay a monthly fee of $14.95 to subscribe to the BurnLounge Business Management Software (BMS) Platinum, which tracks and manages the Mogul's team sales.
In addition, Music Moguls have the option the purchase the st1:place BurnLounge University package for $300. BurnLounge Univesity is a six-DVD education package that features a year-long, two-semester course on the entertainment business. It features in-depth interviews, day-in-the-life segments, cautionary tales and success stories from some of the most experienced and influential players in the business.
-- -- How will I be compensated as a BurnLouge retailer?
There are basically two ways to earn compensation as a BurnLounge Retailer. First, you can earn sales commissions from the sale of music and merchandise through your online music store and, if you're an Affiliate or Mogul, through the stores of your team members. Secondly, if you are an Affiliate or Mogul, you can receive substantial cash bonuses for building effective sales teams consisting of other Affiliates and Moguls.
-- -- What is the commission structure for music sales?
BurnRewards Points are the currency of the BurnRewards program. Each retailer has a BurnLounge Account where BurnRewards points are banked. Those points can then be redeemed for BurnLounge music and merchandise; or in the case of Affiliates and Moguls, for cash. One (1) BurnReward Point is currently equivalent to $1.00.
Fans. For every purchase through their site, Fan earn BurnRewards Points that they can redeem for BurnLounge music and merchandise. Fans currently earn .05 points for every single $0.99 download (.50 points for every album of $9.99 or more) OR the number of points equal to 20% of the profit margin on those music and merchandise purchases, whichever is greater.
Affiliates & Moguls. The first difference between the way that Fans (on one hand) and Affiliates and Moguls (on the other) earn BurnRewards is that Affiliates and Moguls can redeem their BurnRewards Points for cash. (So, from here on, we'll say "$0.05" instead of ".05 points".) The second difference is that Affiliates and Moguls can create Sales Teams, and earn BurnRewards for the stores in that team.
Five Cent Rule. For every purchase through their site, Affiliates and Moguls earn $0.05 for every single $0.99 download ($0.50 for every album of $9.99 or more) OR 20% of the profit margin on music and merchandise purchases, whichever is greater.
Two Cent Rule. For every purchase on a site run by a member of their Direct Team, Affiliates and Moguls can earn $0.02 for every single $0.99 download ($0.20 for every album of $9.99 or more) OR 12% of the profit margin on music and merchandise purchases, whichever is greater.
This same basic structure continues up to six levels deep. The first level immediately below the Affiliate or Mogul earns 12% (Two Cent Rule above). The next four levels earn 5% each. And the sixth level down earns the Affiliate or Mogul 8%. All of this, of course, is dependent upon meeting certain sales requirements.
For a more in-depth explanation of the Burnlounge compensation structure, check out this video: BurnLounge Compensation Plan
-- -- What cash bonuses are available to the Affiliates and Moguls?
Customer Bonus. This bonus is available to Affiliates and Moguls. When an Affiliate or Mogul sells a $29.95 ICE site to any new Affiliate or Mogul, and that site becomes active by selling two albums, the sponsoring Affiliate/Mogul receives a Customer Bonus of $10.00.
Mogul Customer Bonus. This bonus is available to Moguls only. When a Mogul sells a $29.95 ICE site to any new Mogul, and that site becomes active by selling two albums, the sponsoring Mogul receives a Mogul Customer Bonus of $10.00 in addition to the Customer Bonus. Also, when a Mogul sells a BurnLounge University package to any new Mogul, the Mogul receives an additional Mogul Customer Bonus of $30.00.
Mogul Team Bonus. This bonus is only availabe to Moguls who personally sponsor at least two other Moguls in their team. The Mogule Team Bonus is an incentive to build powerful teams of active Moguls who sell lots of music. For each active Mogul in your team, you receive 100 Mogul Points. For each University Package purchased by a Mogul in your team, you receive 300 Mogul Points. An award of $50.00 is released when a Mogul achieves a threshold of 600 active and balanced Mogul Points in their Mogul Team Viewer (part of the BMS Platinum software). As you continue to build your sales team, you will receive Mogul points every time someone joins at one of the Mogul levels. Every time you reach 600 points, you get another $50. The beautiful thing about this is that the Mogul doesn't have to be personally sponsored by you to get you points. A Mogul under you can sign up a new Mogul and you still get the Mogul Team points because the new Mogul is still considered a member of YOUR team. So imagine if you only signed up two Moguls, and then they each signed up only two Moguls, and then each of those Moguls only signed up two Moguls.....well you get the picture. If everyone can just build a team of TWO motivated Moguls, a LOT of bonus money can get paid out.
-- -- I'm ready! How do I get started?
You can be up and running in a matter of minutes with your own online music store. Here's how....
- Go to http://www.yourinstantmedia.com Click on "Make Cash" Follow the prompts. Go slowly, you will want to remember this process as you help others register! Select Mogul with University package. YOU'RE IN! Exit your friends store and go to your store. www.burnlounge.com/your store name Sign in with your username & password Scroll to the bottom of your store and click on ICE tutorial. (This will show you the simple steps to edit your store, create playlists, etc) Your back office and business software are located at www.burnrewards.com Log in with your same username & password. (This may not be operational for a few minutes) Get busy selling music and building your team. Tell your friends, family, and associates about your new store. Good luck and contact your sponsor for support as needed.